We promote the engagement of the fishing community and cofradías (guilds) in the protection of sea turtles through a project also fostered by the Valencian Regional Government in collaboration with Xaloc and the Parador de Turismo de El Saler hotel. The communication and awareness-raising actions are intended to encourage the fishing vessels accidentally capturing sea turtles to hand over the specimens to the collection network organized by the Environment Department, the fishing associations, the University of Valencia and the Oceanographic Institute, which is where all the animals are taken until they have recovered. The most recent activities include the award of logos distinguishing the ships taking part.

Within the framework of this collaboration, we also organize “Turtle Camps” to protect nest of loggerhead sea turtles, a species in danger of extinction, that has once more found a suitable location on the Mediterranean coasts in which to deposit their eggs. This initiative is supported by other entities such as the Spanish Army or Decathlon and it has been given awards on several occasions by the Valencian Regional Government’s Directorate-General for the Environment. These camps entail organizing a nest surveillance system to protect them round the clock until the eggs hatch.